Butterfly mops with automated scrubber

ABSTRACT

A butterfly mop includes a compressible cleaning member and one or more automated scrubbers. The compressible cleaning member is adapted to clean flat smooth surfaces through a mopping action and the automated scrubbers may be used when a deep-seated or ingrained soiled area is encountered. The automated scrubbers may be rotatable about an axis and are typically driven by a motor comprising a rotating pin connected to a drive shaft and gears.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to butterfly mops and more particularly to butterfly mops with scrubber members.

BACKGROUND

Conventional butterfly mops include an elongated handle, a mop head comprising a cleaning member (e.g., a sponge) mounted on a pair of co-planar base plates, and a squeeze mechanism for pivoting the base plates to compress a portion of the cleaning member and extract liquid therefrom.

Butterfly mops are typically employed to clean dirt and dust from floors. Although the cleaning members of butterfly mops effectively serve this purpose, users often encounter difficulty removing ground-in dirt and tough stains with conventional butterfly mops.

There is a need, therefore, for a mop that not only removes dirt and dust but may also be used when a deep-seated or ingrained soiled area is encountered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an improved butterfly mop comprising a cleaning member and one or more scrubbers driven by a scrubber motor.

In one embodiment, the butterfly mop of the present invention includes a handle, a compressible cleaning member, opposing plates connected to the compressible cleaning member and secured about a common pivot axis to converge pivotally toward one another, at least one rotatable scrubber member, a motor to rotate the scrubber member, a battery retainer positioned within the handle and connected to the motor and a cleaning member actuator positioned on the handle to compress a portion of the cleaning member by converging the opposing plates toward one another. The cleaning member may be a sponge or sponge-like material and the rotatable scrubber member may comprise a plurality of bristles. The motor may be positioned within a motor housing that is transverse to a plane in which the at least one scrubber member is positioned. Alternatively, the motor may be positioned parallel to a plane in which the at least one scrubber is positioned. The batteries may be rechargeable and accessed through an aperture in a sidewall of the handle. A cover, comprising a curved surface, may be positioned over the cleaning member. To activate the scrubber, a scrubber member actuator may be positioned closer to the upper end of the handle than the cleaning member actuator.

In another embodiment, the butterfly mop comprises a handle, a support frame disposed comprising a cleaning member, the support frame including a forward section and a rearward section, a scrubber support member disposed on or near the forward section of the support frame and comprising at least one movable scrubber, a motor for activating the at least one movable scrubber, a cleaning member actuator disposed on the handle to compress a portion of the cleaning member and a scrubber member actuator to activate the motor. The movable scrubber may comprise a plurality of successive scrubbers, with each successive scrubber configured to rotate in opposite directions. The mop may further comprise a cover positioned over a portion of the lower end of the handle, the cleaning member and the at least one movable scrubber. Further, a guard may be positioned about the at least one scrubber member. The motor may be positioned transverse to the handle and connected to a drive shaft.

In still another embodiment, the butterfly mop comprises, a handle, a compressible cleaning member comprising a forward portion and a rear portion, opposing plates connected to the compressible cleaning member and secured about a common pivot axis to converge pivotally toward one another, at least one rotatable scrubber member positioned in front of the forward portion of the compressible cleaning member and a motor associated with the at least one rotatable scrubber member, the motor for automatically rotating the rotatable scrubber member. In this embodiment, the compressible cleaning member may be positioned between the scrubber member and the handle.

In yet another embodiment, the butterfly mop comprises a handle, a support frame positioned at the lower end of the handle and comprising a cleaning member, at least one movable scrubber member positioned on the mop support frame, a cleaning member actuator that compresses at least a portion of the cleaning member, a scrubber actuator to activate the at least one movable scrubber member, wherein the scrubber actuator is positioned closer to the upper end of the handle than the cleaning member actuator. This embodiment may optionally include a battery housing positioned within the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the presently claimed invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the butterfly mop of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components for compressing the cleaning member, isolated from the motor and scrubber of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken away exploded bottom perspective view of the base plate associated with the cleaning member of the butterfly mop of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the housing and scrubber assembly of the butterfly mop of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the scrubber assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the motor and power assemblies of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the motor and scrubber assembly of the present invention, with the cover in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to butterfly mops comprising a cleaning member and one or more scrubbers driven by a scrubber motor. In one aspect, the cleaning member may be employed in a conventional manner to clean dirt and dust from floors. In another aspect, the one or more scrubbers may be employed to remove ground-in dirt and tough to remove stains.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the butterfly mop 10 of the present invention is shown. Butterfly mop 10 comprises handle 12 including upper end 14 and lower end 16, mop head 18, cleaning member 20 and at least one scrubber member 22 driven by scrubber motor 24. Additionally, butterfly mop 10 comprises housing 30 including cover 32 and guard 34.

Handle 12 includes grip 13, which may include a plurality of flutes 15, cleaning member actuator 26 and scrubber actuator 28. Since cleaning member actuator 26 slides up and down handle 12, cleaning member actuator 26 is typically positioned below scrubber actuator 28 to avoid damage to scrubber actuator 28 when cleaning member actuator 26 is used.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the mechanism for compressing cleaning member 20 to extract liquid therefrom. In this embodiment, cleaning member actuator 26 is slidably secured about handle 12 and attached to lever arm 35. Squeeze member 36 is attached to the opposite end of lever arm 35. Squeeze member 36 comprises dual squeeze arms 40 and 42, comprising ends 44 and 46.

As shown in FIG. 3, butterfly mop 10 further comprises dual cleaning member support plates 54 and 56, which are positioned below dual squeeze arms 40 and 42 and mop support frame 52. Cleaning member support plates 54 and 56 are connected to mop support frame 52 by spring member 58 and pivot bolts 65 and are connected to cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 through screws 64 and 66. Cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 may be affixed to cleaning member 32 with an adhesive or through other means known to those of skill in the art. Screws 64 and 66 are embedded in cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 and comprise two threaded portions adapted to project through two openings 68 and 70 in cleaning member support plates 54 and 56. With screws 64 and 66 in place, cleaning member 32 is thereby secured to cleaning member support plates 54 and 56.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exploded view of one embodiment of the housing 72 and scrubber assembly 104 of the butterfly mop of the present invention is shown. Housing 72 comprises cover 32, mop support frame 52 and guard 34. Scrubber assembly 104 comprises scrubbers 73, scrubber support frame 74, scrubber bracket 76.

Cover 32 comprises top surface 77, which includes a pair of through holes 78 and gradually curves into substantially planar front surface 79 and bottom edge 80. Cover is adapted to cover or surround at least a portion of or all of scrubbers 73 and cleaning member 20. Cover 32 further comprises raised central portion 81, including a pair of rearwardly projecting sidewalls 82 and handle support 83. Handle support 83 may be crescent-shaped and adapted to surround a portion of handle 12. Handle support 83 may be transverse to the longitudinal plane of cover 32. Cover 32 is secured over mop support frame 52.

Mop support frame 52 comprises top portion 94 and bottom portion 96. Top portion includes central channel 98, side projections 100, each including apertures 101, and rounded front portion 102, which is substantially similar in shape to front surface 79 of cover 32. Bottom portion 96 includes a plurality countersinks (not shown) adapted to mate with scrubber support frame 74 and scrubber bracket 76. Bottom surface further includes a plurality of elongated projections 103.

Guard 34 comprises front surface 138, opposing side surfaces 140 and 142 and internal ledges 144 and 146. Groove 145 runs along front surface 138 and opposing side surfaces 140 and 142. Groove 145 is adapted to mate with bottom edge 80 of cover 32. Internal ledges 144 and 146 include apertures (not shown) that mate with the mop support frame apertures 101 in side projections 100 of mop support frame 52.

An exploded view of scrubber assembly 104 is shown in FIG. 5. Scrubber assembly 104 comprises scrubbers 73, scrubber support frame 74, scrubber support bracket 76 and gears 106.

Scrubbers 73 comprise annular support 108, central apertures 110 and a plurality of bristles 112. Central apertures 110 may be square in shape.

Scrubber support frame 74 comprises a plurality of scrubber apertures 118, mop/scrubber support frame apertures 121 and a plurality of gear covers 122 with grooves 123 therebetween. Scrubber apertures 118 mate with central apertures 110 disposed in scrubbers 73. With scrubber support frame 74 in position, grooves 123 of front gear covers 122 mate with elongated projections 103 disposed on mop support frame 52.

Gears 106 may be removably secured to scrubbers 73. Gears 106 comprise annular top projections 126, first teeth 130 and bottom projection 132, which is substantially square in shape. First teeth 130 on adjacent gears 106 are adapted to interlock. At least one of gears 106 comprises drive shaft attachment 125 comprising second teeth 131. Scrubber screws 134 secure scrubbers 73 to gears 106.

Scrubber bracket 76 is also secured to mop support frame 52 and comprises a plurality of mop support frame/bracket apertures 136 and a plurality of gear apertures 138. Mop support frame/bracket apertures 136 mate with mop/scrubber support frame apertures 121 and countersinks of mop support frame 52. Gear apertures 138 mate with annular top projections 126 of gears.

Referring now to FIG. 6, one embodiment of the motor assembly 150 and power assembly 250 of the present invention is shown. Motor assembly 150 comprises motor housing 154, gear box 155, motor 156, drive shaft 158 and associated components. Power assembly 250 comprises batteries 252, battery retainer 254 and first and second connectors 256 and 258.

Motor housing 154 may be secured to lower end 16 of handle 12 by conventional means, including screws and/or adhesive. Motor housing 154 may, however, be secured to alternate locations on mop 10, with cover 28 modified to accommodate the additional structure. For example, motor housing 154 may be secured to a top portion of mop support frame 52, as in FIG. 7.

Motor 156 is disposed within motor housing 154 and comprises rotating pin 159. When motor 156 is activated, successive scrubbers 22 counter-rotate. That is, successive scrubbers rotate in opposite directions; otherwise, butterfly mop 10 would pull toward one side. To optimize weight distribution and the center of gravity of butterfly mop 10, motor 156 may be positioned on a lower portion of mop 10. Additionally, motor 156 may be positioned either transverse or parallel to a plane in which scrubber members 22 are positioned.

Motor 156 may be powered by ac or dc current. When motor 156 is powered by batteries 252, battery retainer 254, comprising top and bottom interlocking members 260 and 262, is positioned within handle 12. Battery retainer 12 may be snap-fit or interference fit into handle 12 or secured therein by other methods known to those of skill in the art. Wire 264 can be used to connect motor 156 with power assembly 250 through first and second connectors 256 and 258. Additionally, power assembly 250 may be connected to scrubber actuator 28.

Power assembly 250 may advantageously employ rechargeable batteries 252. Under this construction, a charging aperture 263 may be positioned in handle 12 so a user can recharge batteries 252 therethrough. Alternatively, power assembly 250 may be removed from handle 12 and recharged externally thereto.

Drive shaft 158 comprises first end 160, body 162 and second end 164. First end 160 comprises widened portion 166 that tapers into body 162. Widened portion 166 includes opening 168 and washer 170 within opening 168. Second end 164 comprises disc 172. Disc 172 comprises third teeth 174 that interlock with second teeth 131 of drive shaft attachment 125 disposed on one of gears 106.

The above-described butterfly mop 10 may be constructed through a series of steps.

First, the various components are obtained. Grip 13, motor housing 154, mop support frame 52, drive shaft 158, scrubber support frame 74 and cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 may be injection molded to conform to the structures shown in FIGS. 1-5. Handle 12, cleaning member actuator 26, lever arm 35, dual squeeze arms 40 and 42, cleaning member support plates 54 and 56, spring member 58 and screws are conventional components known to those of skill in the art. Motor 156, wiring and scrubber actuator 28 may be purchased from a hardware or electronics store.

Second, the various components are assembled. In no particular order, mop support frame 52 is provided. Scrubber bracket 76 is secured to mop support frame 52 by aligning the apertures 101 in mop support frame 52 with the apertures 136 of scrubber bracket 76 and inserting a screw or other fastener. Squeeze members 40 and 42 and lever arm 35 are provided. As is customary, ends 44 and 46 of squeeze members 40 and 42 are inserted through openings in mop support frame 52 and cleaning member support plates 54 and 56 are secured to mop support frame 52. Drive shaft 158 is positioned within central channel 98 of mop support frame 52. Motor 156 is positioned within motor housing 154, which is affixed to lower end 16 of handle 12. Rotating pin 159 of motor 156 is positioned within central opening 168 of drive shaft 158. After scrubbers 22 and gears 106 are secured to scrubber support frame 74, apertures 118 and grooves 123 in scrubber support frame 74 are aligned with corresponding countersinks and elongated projections 103 in mop support frame 52 for attachment. Cleaning member 20 is positioned on cleaning member support plates 54 and 56, with dual screws 64 and 66 of cleaning member 20 projecting out of openings 68 and 70. Guard 34 is secured to mop support frame 52. Cover 32 is positioned over mop support frame 52 and edge 80 of cover 32 is secured to groove 145 of guard 34.

In operation, butterfly mop 10 can be used in either of a mopping or scrubbing mode. After mop 10 is assembled, a user can clean flat smooth surfaces through a mopping action with cleaning member 20. After cleaning member accumulates 20 dirty water, downward pressure on cleaning member actuator 26 pivots cleaning member support plates 54 and 56 and base plates 57 and 59, compressing a portion of cleaning member 20 to remove excess water. Mop 10 can also be used for more concentrated scrubbing action, (e.g., when a deep-seated or ingrained soiled area is encountered), by tilting handle 12 downwardly to contact scrubber members 22 with the surface to be cleaned, turning on motor 156 with scrubber member actuator 28 and moving scrubber members 22 over the targeted area.

Variations, modifications and other implementations of what is described herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is in no way limited by the preceding illustrative description. 

1. A butterfly mop comprising: a handle including an upper end and a lower end; a compressible cleaning member positioned below the lower end of the handle; opposing plates connected to the compressible cleaning member and secured about a common pivot axis to converge pivotally toward one another; at least one rotatable scrubber member; a motor adapted to rotate the at least one scrubber member; a battery retainer positioned within the handle and connected to the motor, the battery retainer for holding one or more batteries; and a cleaning member actuator positioned on the handle to compress a portion of the cleaning member by converging the opposing plates toward one another.
 2. The butterfly mop of claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is a sponge or sponge-like material.
 3. The butterfly mop of claim 1, wherein the at least one rotatable scrubber member comprises a plurality of successive scrubbers, with each successive scrubber configured to rotate in opposite directions.
 4. The butterfly mop of claim 1, wherein the motor is positioned within a motor housing, the motor housing being transverse to a plane in which the at least one scrubber member is positioned.
 5. The butterfly mop of claim 1, wherein the motor is positioned parallel to a plane in which the at least one scrubber is positioned.
 6. The butterfly mop of claim 1, wherein the batteries are rechargeable batteries.
 7. The butterfly mop of claim 1, further comprising a cover positioned over the cleaning member and the at least one scrubber member.
 8. The butterfly mop of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an aperture in communication with the battery housing for recharging the batteries.
 9. The butterfly mop of claim 1, wherein a scrubber member actuator is positioned closer to the upper end of the handle than the cleaning member actuator.
 10. A butterfly mop comprising: a handle including an upper end and a lower end; a support frame positioned at the lower end of the handle and comprising a cleaning member, the support frame including a forward section and a rearward section; a scrubber support member disposed on or near the forward section of the support frame and comprising at least one movable scrubber; a motor for activating the at least one movable scrubber; a cleaning member actuator disposed on the handle to compress a portion of the cleaning member; and a scrubber member actuator to activate the motor.
 11. The butterfly mop of claim 10, wherein the at least one movable scrubber member comprises a plurality of successive scrubbers, with each successive scrubber configured to rotate in opposite directions.
 12. The butterfly mop of claim 10, further comprising a cover positioned over a portion of the lower end of the handle, the cleaning member and the at least one movable scrubbers.
 13. The butterfly mop of claim 10, wherein the motor is positioned transverse to the handle.
 14. The butterfly mop of claim 10, further comprising a guard positioned about the at least one scrubber member.
 15. The butterfly mop of claim 10, wherein the motor is connected to a drive shaft.
 16. The butterfly mop of claim 10, further comprising a battery housing positioned within the handle for holding one or more rechargeable batteries.
 17. A butterfly mop comprising: a handle including a lower end and an upper end; a compressible cleaning member positioned below the lower end of the handle, the compressible cleaning member comprising a forward portion and a rear portion; opposing plates connected to the compressible cleaning member and secured about a common pivot axis to converge pivotally toward one another; at least one rotatable scrubber member positioned in front of the forward portion of the compressible cleaning member; a motor associated with the at least one rotatable scrubber member for automatically rotating the rotatable scrubber member and positioned on a lower portion of the butterfly mop.
 18. The butterfly mop of claim 17, wherein the compressible cleaning member is positioned between the scrubber member and the handle.
 19. A butterfly mop comprising: a handle including a lower end and an upper end; a support frame positioned at the lower end of the handle and comprising a cleaning member; at least one movable scrubber member disposed on the mop support frame; a cleaning member actuator that compresses at least a portion of the cleaning member, the cleaning member actuator positioned on the handle; a scrubber actuator to activate the at least one movable scrubber member, wherein the scrubber actuator is positioned closer to the upper end of the handle than the cleaning member actuator.
 20. The butterfly mop of claim 19, further comprising a battery housing positioned within the handle for holding one or more rechargeable batteries. 